Remote audio device management system

• US 20050002535A1
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Liao, Chunyuan, Liu, Qiong, Kimber, Donald G., Foote, Jonathan T., Adcock, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,126,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios

Abstract

An audio device management system (ADMS) manages remote audio devices via user selections in video links. The system enhances audio acquisition quality by receiving and processing human suggestions, forming customized two-way audio links according to user requests, and learning audio pickup strategies and camera management strategies from user operations. The ADMS control interface for a remote user provides a multi-window GUI that provides an overview window and selection display window. The ADMS provides users with more flexibility to enhance audio signals according to their needs and makes it more convenient to form customized two-way audio links without requiring users to remember a list of phone numbers. The ADMS also automatically manages available microphones for audio pickup based on microphone sound quality and the system'"'"'s past experience when users monitor a structured audio environment without explicitly expressing their attentions in the video window.

Claims

1. A method for managing audio devices, comprising:

providing video content, the video content having pixels associated with at least one audio device;

receiving a selection of a first group of pixels, the selection made by a user, the first group of pixels within the video content;

selection of an audio device based on the first group of pixels;

providing audio from the audio device to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing video content includes:

capturing video content of a live event at a first location; and

providing the video content to a remote location.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein selection of an audio device includes:

selection of an audio device that is located at a physical location associated with the selected first group of pixels.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein selection of an audio device includes:

selection of an audio device that is configured to pick-up audio from the location associated with the selected first group of pixels.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein selection of an audio device includes:

selecting a plurality of audio devices associated with the first group of pixels;

comparing parameters for each audio device; and

selecting one of the plurality of audio devices.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the parameters include signal to noise ratio.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein selection of an audio device includes:

determining that no audio device is associated with the selected first group of pixels;

determining an alternative audio device to operate as the audio device associated with the selected first group of pixels, the alternative audio device configured to capture audio associated with selection of the first group of pixels.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein providing audio includes:

providing 2-way audio between the user and a second user, the user located at a remote location and the second user located at a central location associated with the video content.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically selecting a second group of pixels, the second group of pixels associated with a second weight and selected as a result of detecting motion in the video content, the first group of pixels associated with a first weight, wherein providing audio includes;

providing audio associated with the group of pixels associated with the highest weight.

15. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein computer code for selection of an audio device includes:

computer code for selection of an audio device that is located at a physical location associated with the selected first group of pixels.

16. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein computer code for selection of an audio device includes:

computer code for selection of an audio device that is configured to pick-up audio from the location associated with the selected first group of pixels.

17. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein computer code for selection of an audio device includes:

computer code for selecting a plurality of audio devices associated with the first group of pixels;

computer code for comparing signal-to-noise ratios for each audio device; and

computer code for selecting one of the plurality of audio devices.

18. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein computer code for selection of an audio device includes:

computer code for determining that no audio device is associated with the selected first group of pixels;

computer code for determining an alternative audio device to operate as the audio device associated with the selected first group of pixels, the alternative audio device configured to capture audio associated with selection of the first group of pixels.

19. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

computer code for automatically selecting a second group of pixels, the second group of pixels associated with a second weight and selected as a result of detecting motion in the video content, the first group of pixels associated with a first weight, wherein providing audio includes;

providing audio associated with the group of pixels associated with the highest weight.

10. A method for managing audio devices, comprising:

providing video content, the video content having pixels associated with at least one audio device;

selecting a first group of pixels, the first group of pixels within the video content;

automatically selecting one of at least one audio devices based on the first group of pixels;

providing audio from the automatically selected audio device to the user.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein automatically selecting one of at least one audio devices includes:

selecting capable audio devices, wherein each of the capable audio devices is configured to capture audio associated with the location corresponding to the first group of pixels;

determining the signal to noise ratio for each of the capable audio devices; and

selecting the capable audio device having the highest signal to noise ratio.

12. An interface tool for managing audio devices, comprising:

an overview window, the overview window configured to provide a first video content captured at a remote location, the interface tool configured to receive input from a user, the input indicating a selection of a region of the first video content;

a selection display window, the selection display window configured to provide a second video content, the second video content including video of the selected region, the second video content having a higher resolution than the first video content; and

an audio output device, the audio output device configured to output audio associated with the selected region.

13. The interface tool of claim 21 wherein the audio is captured at the remote location.

14. A computer program product for execution by a computer for managing audio devices, comprising:

computer code providing video content, the video content having pixels associated with at least one audio device;

computer code for receiving a selection of a first group of pixels, the selection made by a user, the first group of pixels within the video content;

computer code for selection of an audio device based on the first group of pixels; and

computer code for providing audio from the audio device to the user.